Quality assurance project plan templates for grantees & data gatherers

• Use the QA project plan template for the development of your QA project plan. The template includes information and instructions needed for the preparation of a QA project plan (QAPP). Note: example text will be deleted as the plan is prepared.
• Examples of Quality Assurance Project Plans links to well-written QAPPs for completed projects. Each contains the required QAPP elements, though some may not reflect the current template format.
• The QAPP Review Checklist can also be used as you prepare the QA Project Plan; it provides a list of all the required elements for the plan.
• Guidelines for Preparing Quality Assurance Project Plans for Environmental Studies is a downloadable Ecology publication that provides detailed guidance on preparing a QAPP. It includes a glossary.

Standard procedures for field sampling & analysis

Grantees are required to use standard operating procedures (SOPs) for any field sampling and field analytical activities they undertake. Here is a link to Ecology's SOPs for field procedures:

• Quality assurance offers access to all of our published SOPs.

Help with laboratory accreditation

See the laboratory accreditation website for more information about laboratory accreditation. Any data submitted to Ecology or funded by Ecology must be performed by an accredited lab using an accredited method.

National Estuary Program grantee considerations